A Middlesex County man was arrested on August 27, 2025, for allegedly sending obscene material to a minor under the age of 16. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba.
Mahir Chaudhry, 21, from Piscataway, New Jersey, is charged with one count of transferring obscene material to a minor. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court on August 28, 2025, and is being held pending approval of certain bail conditions.
Court documents state that between March and May 2023, Chaudhry sent at least six obscene images via text message to a victim he knew was younger than 16 years old.
If convicted, Chaudhry faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
“The defendant’s arrest is a testament to the combined work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to protect the people of New Jersey from individuals who prey on minor victims—no matter where the victims are located," said Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba.
“Chaudhry’s arrest is impactful on many fronts. He can no longer cause harm to minor victims, as the complaint alleges, and his arrest serves as a warning to others who think their actions are unseen. The FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to find and apprehend these predators,” said SAC Stefanie Roddy of FBI Newark.
The investigation involved special agents from the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit led by Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. Additional support came from FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, and international partners.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 that coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies against child sexual exploitation (https://www.justice.gov/psc).
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Maloy from the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark represents the government in this case.
The allegations remain accusations unless proven otherwise; Chaudhry is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Defense counsel for Chaudhry is Timothy Donahue.
